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Comment by coreyp_1 | Hacker News Reader

I just bought one of these "junk" mini PCS for less than $100 with decent specs, and it came with Windows 10 professional, but it did not qualify to be updated to Windows 11.

I didn't even boot into windows. I immediately installed Ubuntu, and now it is my home automation and home media interface.

Honestly, I can't think of anything more beneficial to the Linux community then suddenly having a lot of cheap computers with good specs that are not only merely adequate, but actually rather exceptional for the cost, all because of the advent of Windows 11.

What was Microsoft thinking?!?

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Windows 11 is an advertising platform to sell ongoing/subscription services.

For consumers, Xbox Game Pass, OneDrive, Office 365

For businesses, Office 365, Azure, etc.

That started with Windows 10 actually, the moment they made it a free upgrade from 7/8/8.1.

I just installed Windows 10 on a VM and laptop, both are getting non-stop "suggestions" to "finish setting up my device" with Microsoft 365 subscriptions.

Severe but temporary punishment is more humane and more effective than life in prison.

I believe this idea applies to tech as well as criminal justice.

We should actually welcome Microsoft’s increasingly anti-freedom, anti-consumer, anti-environment shenanigans as a boon for FOSS.

> What was Microsoft thinking?!?

Short-term profits.

Devil's advocate: Profits from what exactly?

Windows 11 is a free update and they don't make profits from the sale of new hardware since they're not in the business of selling hardware (barring the niche surface devices which don't really sell meaningful numbers to be profitable).

Edit: -4 downvotes already? wow. What's with the downvotes my dudes? Should I juste come to HN to spam "hurr durr Microsft bad" for karma farming to coincide with the acceptable party line?

My assumption is that your (required) new computer comes with Windows 11, which was licensed for that unit by the manufacturer. I doubt they pay the full $140, but I also bet it isn't free.

Doesn’t Microsoft only make Windows 11 “free” if you’ve already paid for a Windows license previously? That means they benefit when you buy a whole new machine.

Furthermore, Microsoft makes money from ads, so a more intrusive UI along with more extreme data harvesting also leads to more profits.

Nothing is "free." Ever. If the update is "free," your attention and autonomy are the price.

I'd be fine with that, if they offered an alternative for power users who don't want to participate in Microsoft's move-the-mouse-cursor-for-shitty-popup-celebrity-news corporate strategy. Even an expensive alternative! But they have chosen not to do so.

Microsoft make money because business licenses for windows aren't free. You were downvoted because your comment was stupid. HTH.

>What was Microsoft thinking?!?

Security.

They've gone on the record that they saw significantly better end-user security when the hardware used had TPM, SecureBoot, et al. to ward off common attack vectors.

I am inclined to believe them.

"Security"

Common attack vectors aren't warded off by SecureBoot. Alternative OSes and messing with your own computer are the ones impacted. None of the common attacks on Windows need rewriting your boot loader.

It's essential for TCPI platform attestation, that has come back into fashion recently.

If with security you mean them having the ability to use your computer against you then yeah. They dont care about your security, they care about securing their profits which they will be able to safeguard with remote attestation and DRM.

It won't be your computer anymore, it will be a platform for them to show you ads on.

I genuinely struggling to see how TPM or SecureBoot improves security for normal users. The vast majority of attacks are not done by evil maids, but by zero-days, poorly configured software, or being phised.

How exactly does TPM stop "common attacks"?

They also released Win11, so I'm inclined to never believe a word they say ever again.

I’m never inclined to believe them; there’s enough historical record to construe any Microsoft action as malicious, until proven otherwise.

> I am inclined to believe them.

Why?

I mean, I don't doubt their findings, but I doubt that's the reason they imposed the requirement.

my 2014 PC has TPM 2.0 and supports secure boot but is not on the list of supported chips

not that it matters, I binned Windows everywhere when it was clear with Windows 10 release that the platform is now designed to work against the users interests

Can you share what you bought? Model number and such? Thanks

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